PEARY'S CHRONOMETER RECOVERED FROM THE GREELY EXPEDITION AT FORT CONGER. PEARY, ROBERT E. 1856-...

PEARY'S CHRONOMETER RECOVERED FROM THE GREELY EXPEDITION AT FORT CONGER. PEARY, ROBERT E. 1856-1920. A boxed marine chronometer by John Hutton, no. 310, abandoned by Greely at Fort Conger, 1883, and recovered by Peary and brought back in 1902, silvered dial engraved 'John Hutton / 10 Mark Lane, London No 310,' movement in brass bowl gimballed in brass bound mahogany box, double hinged, with glass top and mahogany cover, nameplate on front labelled 'Hutton / 310,' all approximately 7 x 7 x 7 inches (183 x 172 x 170 mm.) WITH: Autograph Note Signed by Peary ('REP'), 'Chronometer / abandoned at Fort Conger / Aug 1883 / by Lady Franklin Bay Expedition / Brought back in 1902,' 1 p, 75 x 155 mm, toned and heavily chipped. Provenance: Lieutenant Adolphus Greely, abandoned by him at Fort Conger, August, 1883, (autograph note by Robert E. Peary, who recovered it in 1902); Admiral Robert E. Peary; by descent, sold James D. Julia, Estate of Robert E. Peary, Jr., Important Maine Summer Auction, August 25-26, 1994, lot 512. A BEAUTIFUL MARINE MID-19TH CENTURY MARINE CHRONOMETER USED BY TWO OF THE GREATEST EXPLORERS OF THE LATE 19TH-CENTURY. The Greely expedition was mounted in 1881 to establish a meteorological-observation station and collect astronomical and magnetic data. They achieved two farthest North records before becoming stranded at Fort Conger, where no supplies could reach them. After two unsuccessful attempts at getting supplies through, Greely determined to head South with his men, abandoning Fort Conger and their instruments. They made it to Fort Sabine, where they found 40 days of supplies, but the season was too late to either return to Fort Conger or to cross the Baffin Bay, so they had to winter there. Of Greely's 23 men, only 7 survived. Peary rediscovered this chronometer in 1899, along with the original records of the expedition, original manuscripts, scientific specimens, and other scientific instruments. They were returned to New York over the next few years. Upon the news of Peary's 1906 farthest North record, the Museum of Natural History in New York mounted a temporary exhibition displaying a sledge he used, a sextant, as well as 'a chronometer for determining longitude used by General Greely in his famous polar work and abandoned by him at Fort Conger' (The American Museum Journal, American Museum of Natural History, 1907). Saleroom notices: Please note that the chronometer comes with both the winding key and key for lock. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing

Saleroom Notice:
Please note that the chronometer comes with both the winding key and key for lock.